The conditions for improvement in the near future aren't promising. On Tuesday, the Rangers began a stretch of 20 games in 20 days leading up to the All-Star break when AL Central leader Detroit came to town.

The 20-in-20 is the longest stretch allowed under the collective bargaining agreement, and teams tend to fade as they reach the latter portions of the grueling schedule. After the break, the Rangers jump right into 13 games against teams that began the week holding playoff spots. When they are done with that stretch, it's July 31, the trading deadline.

According to one major league source, Daniels has started doing what any GM in his shoes would do:

Wear down the batteries on his iPhone while checking to see what some "core-type" players might bring in a trade.

"We've grown accustomed the last couple of years to being in the pole position or near it," Daniels said. "You adjust your point of view based on the standings. But you consider a lot of different things. There is no rule you have to make a major change before the deadline."

The last time the Rangers were in this situation - 2007 - they turned cornerstone Mark Teixeira into a franchise-overhauling deal that brought them Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz and Matt Harrison. And they turned closer Eric Gagne into David Murphy. All four players became significant pieces in back-to-back World Series runs.

Could they do something similar this year?

Here's a look at the trade landscape for several "core-type" players:

1 Elvis Andrus: The Rangers have a glut of young middle infielders. Andrus has a big contract and appears to have plateaued or regressed offensively. He's still 25, with room for improvement, and shipping him might open up payroll to be used in other areas of need.

The downside: He's being paid like a premier offensive shortstop, but, offensively, he's been among the least valuable shortstops in the league the last two years. If he does improve offensively, he has the ability to opt out after 2018. If he doesn't, he could saddle a team with a huge financial obligation.

Of course, the Rangers could agree to eat some salary to move him, but that would defeat a lot of the purpose of going with younger, cheaper players. And it would leave the Rangers with two 21-year-olds in the middle of the diamond in 2015.

1 Alex Rios: Rios is seventh in the AL in hitting and could be controlled by another team for 2015 because of a $13.5 million contract option. The problem: What would the Rangers get in return?

A year ago, it took only a utility infielder to acquire him. Could the Rangers expect any more in terms of talent, unless they were willing to pick up some of the remaining contractual obligation? Because of insurance claims on Prince Fielder and Matt Harrison, picking up some of Rios' contract for this year might make some financial sense if it would help bring a better prospect in return.

1 Joakim Soria: A closer with a .144 opponents batting average and .370 opponents' OPS would seem attractive, but Soria also has a 2015 option for $7 million.

If Neftali Feliz, Tanner Scheppers or Alexi Ogando were effective/healthy, dealing Soria would be a no-brainer. The problem is there is no clear-cut closer in waiting.

1 Adrian Beltre: Joey Gallo is tearing up Class AA after scorching Class A. Beltre's balky hamstrings and quadriceps will only continue to get worse as he ages. He is due $17 million this season, $18 million in 2015 and $16 million if his 2016 option vests.

As with Andrus, if the Rangers trade Beltre, they are assured of having at least two really young infielders next year. And Beltre is the closest thing this team has to a galvanizing force.

1 Yu Darvish: If there is a Teixeira trade possibility, it is with Darvish. At an average of $10.3 million for the next three years, he'd be a bargain for any team and a boon for its pitching staff.

In addition, there is the real possibility the Rangers won't be able to keep him through 2017 because of opt-out clauses based on where Darvish finishes in the Cy Young voting over the next two years.

If the Rangers want to make a franchise-changing trade, Darvish would be the most attractive name. And if they trade him, they'd be dealing away the closest thing they've had to a real ace in more than 20 years with no replacement in sight.